The Synod in the Diocese of Limerick, officially launched in December 2014 continues apace.  So far this year a variety of training opportunities have been presented for delegates, including a full day event which was held in the Radisson Hotel at the end of January, along with the provision of a manual outlining various models of listening and various other back-up resources, all aimed at supporting and equipping delegates with the necessary skills for the next stage of the Synod process.

In parallel with this, a series of lectures have taken place arranged by the Synod organisers which have been open to all, with well-known speakers such as Niamh Hourigan, Gerry O’Hanlon SJ and Salvador Ryan.  Notes on their talks along with further Synod news can be found on the excellent Synod website which can be accessed at www.Synod2016.com

The Synod has now entered the second or ‘listening & discernment’ stage, where delegates are requested to go back to the groupings they represent and elicit people’s views and opinions.  The views thus gathered will then be forwarded to the Synod Office where they will be collated and it is intended that the issues that emerge from this feedback process will form the agenda of the 3 day Synod meeting itself in April 2016.  Therefore active and widespread participation in this stage of the process is vital and it is important that as many people as possible throughout the Diocese make their views known.

To this end, we in ACI Mid-West, together with the Redemptorist Community, are jointly sponsoring an Open Meeting at the Redemptorist Monastery at Mount St. Alphonsus on Thursday next, May 7th at 8.00pm sharp (to conclude by 9.30pm) where ALL – that includes everybody, practising and non-practising alike –  can share their views and have a say.

We invite you to attend and please spread the word.  It should make for an interesting evening’s discussion.

‘Why we need a Synod’ by Gerry O’Hanlon SJ